Originally Posted by Mill Creek Don
In planning for a trip to HNL next November, I called NW to find out what fares would be upgradable with miles (into R bucket). After getting that info, the agent asked when I was looking to travel. She then found us upgrade seats ^ from SEA to HNL on the outbound (which was right around the 331 day mark), and also booked us upgraded seats on the return ^ for the Monday after Thanksgiving (Saturday and Sunday with nothing available for upgrade upfront).
Now, the end of December '05 is 331 days out from November 26 '06. But there we are with confirmed tix/seats to HNL for 30K miles each for the upgrade. Are seats being loaded far outside the 331 window? It seems, with the absence of upgrade seats on Saturday and Sunday, that others may have gotten there even sooner than I did.
Anyone have any knowledge of what's up?
I think it's a false perception that every inventory of seats are available for sale 331 days out. Just as I found out that there was absolutely no standard economy award seats between HNL to KIX (osaka) when booked from US for all of 2006 (as of dec 27, 2005) , it virtually proves that revenue management department has a stronghold on releasing the award seats. Granted, it is my theory that they will make them available sporatically throughout the year, but it's timing is never announced.
...and as for answering your question about availability beyond 331 days, I don't have an answer for that one. My suspicion is that outbound has to be within 331 days out, but the return segment is fine, as long as it's within 360 some days.
If you haven't already, try routing yourself through Portland, San Francisco, or Los Angeles using Alaska or Horizon from Seattle. Since not every connection itinerary shows up on nwa.com you may need to call the rez agent, but you will eventually, if not today, some day, see availabilty.
Jiburi